The outspoken, cigar-chomping Cincinnati restaurateur who was arrested during the Drew Peterson murder trial for mouthing an expletive to Peterson during a courtroom break will have the charges against him dropped if he stays out of trouble here for the next four months, a special prosecutor said.

Jeff Ruby, a Peterson trial spectator who emerged from a rock-star-sized bus each day in a pinstriped suit, faced a fine of up to $500 for indirect criminal contempt. He previously told the Tribune he mouthed the insult to Peterson after the former Bolingbrook police sergeant tried to stare him down.

"I kept staring at him because I am not going to be intimidated by this lowlife," Ruby said. "And the look kept getting dirtier, so I just kept looking at him. I even thought about going over there and giving him a mouthful of missing teeth. I really thought about knocking them out ... because if you can't take care of him legally, you take care of it physically where I come from — Jersey."

Ruby, who later apologized for his actions, said he was drawn to the case by what he called Peterson and his defense team's mockery of Peterson's wives. He has offered $100,000 for the discovery of Stacy Peterson's body. Prosecutors have said they believe Drew Peterson murdered his missing fourth wife, but he has not been charged.

After Ruby's disruptive behavior, Judge Edward Burmila instructed Will County prosecutors to file charges and barred Ruby from the proceedings, but Ruby hung around outside the Joliet courthouse until Peterson was found guilty. Then he hugged spectators and even ran after a vehicle he believed was taking Peterson to jail, shouting profanities along the way.

Ruby is barred from attending Peterson's sentencing hearing, which is expected to be scheduled next year.

"My paramount goal in all off this was to make sure there was no further disruption of the trial or the proceedings, including the sentencing," said special prosecutor Dave Neal, who handled the case because Will County prosecutors said they could be called as witnesses.